If there were any traces of hipster veneer at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg on Wednesday night (and judging by the jeers that soon followed, there were) Stephen Malkmus totally peeled them away about halfway through his nearly 90-minute set at the sold-out Music Hall of Williamsburg. “Yeah, I’ve always considered Williamsburg a part of Queens…It’s more Long Island City” deadpanned the often wry and caustic Mr. Malkmus. Fighting words those surely can be around these parts, but rather than revolting, those offended provincial locals in attendance quickly turned their frowns around and fell back in step with Malkmus’ arresting and pulsating live show. As evidenced by this droll exchange, Malkmus possesses the talent to both agitate and enthrall his loyal crowd of followers. His sarcasm, arcane references, and playful jabs are lyrical trademarks that carry over to his performances, making for great theater on top of the dependably jagged tunes.
Highlighted by cuts from their stellar new album Wig Out at Jagbags and punctuated by some roaring obscure and classic gems, Malkmus and the Jicks-bassist Joanna Bolme, keyboardist/guitarist Mike Clark, and drummer Jake Morris-kept things moving at a brisk and frenetic pace. As one song ended, Malkmus frequently assumed his posture for the next track, arching his guitar in a dramatic raise and playfully toying with his bandmates to catch up. There’s a true and genuine rapport here amongst the Jicks, no doubt sharpened by a decade plus spent together out on the road and clustered in Portland recording studios. There’s also a collective spirit that gave Bolme, Clark, and Morris the freedom to interact with the crowd nearly as much as Malkmus. From the set opening, “Cinnamon and Lesbians” to the bass-inflected grooves of “Shibboleth” to the sing-along fun of “Lariat”, the band made the new songs from Jagbags shine with a clarity that belies the album’s short shelf life. Of course, the biggest cheers in live music nearly always come for the classics, and in this department the band did their best to follow through, treating the audience to spirited takes of old-school Jicks faves, “Jenny and the Ess-Dog” and “Church on White” and rocking out the encore with Pavement jams, “Stereo” and “Harness Your Hopes”. As always, you’re left humming along and singing non-sensical Malkmus-isms long after the show has ended.
Malkmus, now a youthful 47 years of age, seems a lot younger, and it just may have something to do with the comfort and camaraderie he obviously shares with the Jicks. With the exception of the new album’s tracks, he has been mixing up the setlists on this tour and injecting each stop with local references and colorful anecdotes. His not settling into a stock routine or lulling the fans to distraction with indulgent whims. He’s found a solid balance between his current and past catalog and seems more than content to keep the miles turning on the touring van. If this means taking a little heat every now and then from the frontman, then that seems a pretty fair tradeoff for the audience.
Setlist:
1. Cinnamon and Lesbians
2. Spazz
3. Lariat
4. Planetary Motion
5. Share The Red
6. Jo Jo’s Jacket
7. Shibboleth
8. Janitor Revealed
9. Senator
10. Asking Price
11. Stick Figures in Love
12. J Smoov
13. Jenney and the Ess-Dog
14. Houston Hades
15. Church on White
16. Forever 28
Encore:
-Outdoor Miner (Wire Cover)
-Stereo
-Harness Your Hopes
-Wild Thing
